Internal-combustion engine



April 1,,19z4.. 1,488,549

o T. NELSON INTERNAL Comaugwnr: ENGINE Filed Jan. 15 1920 v Patented Apr. 1', 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR 'r. NELSON, or CLEVELAND. OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONT-HALF TO 0. A. BARN- HOLTH, or AKRON, OHIO.

INTERNAL-COIVIBUSTIQN ENGINE.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that l', OSCAR T. Nnnsox. a citizen of the United States. residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuyahoga and 5 State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full. clear, and exact description.

-The present invention relates to an inter- 1 nal combustion engine of the type employing a rotating disc valve in the head of the engine which controls the intake and exhaust ports for the cylinder. 4

The present invention is directed toward certain features of construction of the engine head employing such a disc valve as well as certain features of construction of the disc valve itself.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings -forming a part of this specification in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the cylinder head for an engine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is.a sectional elevation on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1: Fig. 4 is a top plan view with the cover of the cylinder head removed; Fig. 5 is a top plan view with the cover and disc valve removed; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a packing memberf Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a cylinder within which there is a piston 2,

the piston rod and connections to a suitable crank shaft being not shown as such devices are common and well known in the art.

The cylinder has a head 3 which is preferably cored so that it may be water cooled. The upper part of the head has a top portion 1 and side walls such as indicated at 5 which extends around the periphery of the head.

The top portion "t of the cylinder head is I provided with two openings, an intake opening or port 6 and an exhaust opening or .port 7 The port 6 communicates with a chambered portion 8 and this chambered portion has two openings, one of which is indicatedat. 9 in Fig. 3, which openingsareeontnolled gages with its seat the closing action tightly by valve sgone nt which is indicated at 10.

The valve 10 has a stem 10 which at its outer end is enlarged as indicated at 10 and the enlarged portion 10 fits within the cylindrical portion 11 which is formed at the head at the side thereof. this'enlarged head 10 has a conseals the engagement.

siderable surface engagement with the wall of the opening 11, thereby providing a guiding surface. Secured to the valve stem 10 is a rod 12 and surrounding the rod is a sleeve 13, against which bears a spring 14, this spring abuts against the inner end of a cap 15 which closes the outer end of the opening 11. The cap is provided with a central bushing 16 through which the rod 12 extends and upon the outer end of the rod 12 is a threaded abutment member 17. Between the abutment 17 and the cap 15 is a. spring, such as indicated at 18.

The valve 10 is seated and substantially in the position shown in Fig. 3 when the piston within the cylinder is moving from the lower end toward the top ot' the cylinder.

forced to its seat the spring 14. engages with the inner part of ing the impact so valve 10 does not receive the full force "of impact of the closing of the valve.

the cover 15 thus cushion- VVhen the piston is moving within thefrom the position shown in Fig.3

cylinder toward the other end of the cylinder, or in other words, when there is a lack'of compression on the valve 10. this valve moves inwardly or away from its seat and the spring18 serves as a buffer. I

As will be appreciated, the movement of the valve 10 and its companion valve is very rapid during the operation of an engine and the springs Hand 18 are very advantageous in cushioning the impact of the moving'parts of the valve.

The top 4 of the head, at the portion thereof adjacent with an annular recess 19. This reces'sre ceives a ring member 20, the ring member is provided with a reentrant groove 21 in which there are seated a plurality-0t springs 22,

that the valve seat for the the intake opening 6 is provided these springs normally resting on the lower for the later to be exforms the same function with respect to the port 7 as does the ring with respect to the port 6.

Each of these rings has a central opening which corresponds with the opening of the ports 6 and 7 respectively.

Above the top 4 there is mounted a 1'0- tatable disc valve 27. This valve at its central portion has a hub which fits within a depression 28 formed in the top 4. Through the hub there extends a shaft 29 which at its lower end is secured, in a ball thrust bearing 29*. The shaft 28 is secured to the disc 27 so that it may rotate the valve disc.

The valve disc at the central portion has a recess 30 and within the recess there is a ball thrust member as indicated at 31. The disc valve at its outer end is cut back so as to provide a ledge and open space above the ledge as indicated at 32.

The disc valve is provided with a single opening such as indicated at 33, the ends of the opening being are shaped and of substantially the same radius of curvature as the ports 6 and 7 The disc valve through a portion thereof is provided with air holes or ducts 34 which extend through from the outer portion of the disc valve to the inner recess 30. Secured upon the disc valve is a vane like member 35 which has a portion that extends into engagement with a shoulder or track member 36 which is either formed as a part of the disc valve or secured to it. The function of this vane member 35 will be presentlv described.

Secured to the head 3 and more particularly the upstanding flange 5 of the head is a cover 38. This cover is provided with an intake opening 39 and an exhaust opening 40, these openings in the. cover being positioned directly above the intake and exhaust ports 6 and 7. The cover 38 upon the inner surface thereof at the portion adjacent the openings 39 and '40 respectively is recemed to receive ring members which are indicated at 41 and 42 respectively. These members 41 and 42 engage with the disc valve and form a packing between the disc valve and the respective openings 39 and 40.

-Lying between the inner surface of the cover member and the upper surface of the disc valve 27 is a curved plate 42 which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 3. This plate extends in the region of the exhaust port, the central portion of the plate being substantially at the exhaust port and the plate extending on the opposite sides thereof. Adjacent the ends of the plate it is spring pressed by means of plungers such as indicated at 43. These plungers extend through suitable openings in the cover and engage with the plate 42. Springs 44 engage With the plungers, the outer ends of the springs engaging with arms 45 which are mounted upon the cover. This plate. 42 fills in the space between the cover and the disc valve so as to balance the valve and not al low any free play.

. The cover at a place adjacent to the exhaust port has a wheel 46 which is mounted therein. This wheel extends Within the cover and, is adapted to bear upon the rim of the disc valve through a portion of its rotation. The

disc valve through a portion of its periphery at the edge is provided with a shoulder 36 as before explained. This shoulder forms a track which is engaged by the wheel 46 when the same passes beneath the wheel as the disc valve is rotated. The engagement between the trackway 36 and the wheel 46 takes place at the time when the disc valve is closing the exhaust port and the wheel serves to overcome any tipping action which the pressure of gases within the cylinder might tend to induce, which would in turn have binding action upon the rotation of the disc valves.

A pipe such as indicated at 47 is secured to the cover 38 and communicates with the intake opening in the cover 38, tllh. pipe being suitably connected with a source of fuel gas or manifold structure.

A pipe48 is secured to the cover 38 and communicates with the opening 40 which at proper times communicates with the exhaust port. z

The cover 38 is provided with a series of openings such as indicated at49 in Fig. 1. These openings extend through the cover and are located adjacent the outer edge .of the cover in aregion substantially opposite the exhaust port opening. These openings as will be seen communicate with the space within the upstanding flanges 5 which space ceived through the holes 49. This air as the vane is carried around creates a pressure within the space between the vane and the wall of the valve which lies adjacent to itand so forces air through the ducts 34 which as before stated communicate with the recess 30 in the top of the disc valve and the air which thus passes to the recess 30 escapes through the holes 50.

By this construction a circulation of air is obtained through a portion of the valve disc and the portion thus cooled, is that portion of the valve disc which ispassing over the exhaust port during the compression of gas within the cylinder and the explosion of the same. hence this portion of the disc valve. is subjected to the greatest amount of heat and the cooling of this portion is very desirable to prevent unequal heating of the valve disc which might result in distortion or warping.

The shaft 29 upon which the disc valve 27 is mounted extends through the cover 38 I and at its outer end has a gear 51- secured thereto. This gear is a beveled gear and meshes with a second beveled gear 52 which is in turn suitably connected with the crank shaft of the engine or with the cam shaft so that the disc valve 27 is operated in synchronism with the functioning ofthe piston within the cylinder.

The rings 20'and 25 act as plungers engaging with the disc valve 27. These plungers are held up against the disc valve and so hold compression. As will benoted the disc valve has clearance both above and below the disc valve so that the only friction incident to rotation of the disc valve is that which takes place between the plungers 20 and 25 and the portions of the disc valve with which they engage and the surface may be lubricated in any proper manner. The rings l1 and 42 which are associated with the intake and exhaust openings in the cover exert no frictional result'on the disc valve which is worthy of mention and it will further be noted that thewheel 46 has a rolling contact with the disc valve at the time it is in engagement therewith and so there is a minimum of friction. k These considerations which have just been mentioned make the lubrication of the disc valve an.

easy matter.

The cooling feature which has been described with respect to the disc valve is an important feature inasmuch as ittends to equalize the temperature of the disc valve,.

thereby preventing distortion. Naturally the disc valve upon heating is subject to exvide clearance between the disc valve and the parts of the engine structure which surround it. This providing for clearance makes it more diflicult. to hold compression and in the present instance this problem is solved by providing the plungers 20 and 25 which are spring pressed as well as the rings 41 and 42 which act under gravity and which may go and come but always maintain acontact with the disc valve so that compression within the cylinder is held.

The valve lO'which is an auxiliary valve about its own axis and in operation it actually does turn, thus cleaning itself and grinding in againstits seat. This is very e'fi'ective in prevention deposition of. carbon and in preventing accumulation of any material which would prevent the complete seating of the valve.

The valve 10, as beforedescribed, moves inwardly and outwardly in accordance with pressure conditions within the cylinder. The outward movement of the valve is cushloned by the spring 14 while the inward movement of the valve is cushioned by the. spring 18. Both of thesesprings have 'the additional function of storing up energy as they are compressed so as to provide a quick reverse action when the valve moves in the opposite direction.

In operation the fuel gas is conducted through the pipe 47 and when the disc valve 27 has rotated to the position such that opening 33 therein is passing above the intake port 6, as is admitted to the said intake port. he valve 27 is in registry with the intake port 6 at the time when the piston .2 is moving from the inner toward the outer end of the cylinder oron its suction stroke. This operation of the pistondraws the valve 10 inwardly and permits the gas to pass into the cylinder of the engine. lVhen the piston starts on its compression stroke the valve 10 is seated and by this time the opening 33 in the disc valve 27 has passed out of registry with the intake port 6. The piston moves through its compresexhaust stroke the opening 33 in the disc pansion and therefore it is necessary to pro valve is coming into registry with the exhaust port 7 and this registry maintains during the complete exhaust stroke of the piston. I

The opening 33 is of such dimensions that this opening is starting to register with the intake port 6 before the opening 33 has completely passed beyond the exhaust port 7 so that an early opening of the intake port is obtained.

\Vhile we have described the operation of the valve 10 as if it were a single valve, it will be understood that both of the valves which are similar to the valve 10 operate conjunctively and the employment of two valves rather than one is merely a matter of design and produces a more eflicient operation of the engine.

Having described my invention, I, claim 1. An internal combustion engine having a head portiomthe head portion being provided with a chamber, an intake port with which the chamber communicates, there being an opening from said chamber to the interior of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine, a valve cooperating with said opening, a disk valve mounted in the head of the engine, said disk'valve having an opening therein, and an exhaust port formed in the head of the engine and positioned away from the said opening with which the before mentioned valve co-operates.

2. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, which head portion is provided with a chamber having an opening that communicates with the interior of the cylinder of the engineya valve associated with said opening, oppositely disposed resilient membersco-operating with the said valve, abutments with which the said resilient members cooperate thereby to cushion the valve upon its movement in both directions, the said chambered portion in the head communicating with an intake port, a disk valve having an opening therein which communicates with the intake port, and an exhaust port formed in the engine head.

3. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, said head portion being provided with a chamber, there being an opening from said chamber to the interior of the cylinder, a valve co-operating with said opening, a valve stem for said valve whichextends on the outside of the engine head, guiding means for said valve stem, the valve being free to turn about its own axis whereby it grinds itself to its own seat, the said chamber in the head member communicating with an intake port, a disk valve mounted in the head portion, said disk valve having an opening therein which co-operates with the intake port, and an exhaust port formed in the head portion.

4:. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, a chamber formed in the head portion and having an opening which communicates with the interior of the cylinder, a valve co-operating with said opening, a. valve stem for the valve which extends on the outside of the valve head, the

said engine head being provided with an opening through which the valve stem extends, means associated with said opening for guiding the valve stem, oppositely disposed resilient members upon the valve stem,

abutments with which the said resilient members may cooperate' thereby to cushion the movement of the valve in its inward or outward direction, an intake port communicating with said chamber, a disk valve having an opening which co-operates with the intake port, and an exhaust port formed in the engine head.

5. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, provided with an intake port and an exhaust port, a disc valve having an opening therein, which opening 00- operates with the said ports. said disc valve being provided with a tracl-iway extending along a portion of the edge of said valve, a roller member mounted in the head portion adjacent the exhaust port and adapted to co-operate with the said trackway on the disc valve.

6. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, a disc valve mounted in said head portion, said disc valve being provided with passagem ys extending through a portion thereof, said passageways commumcating at "their inner and outer ends with grooves formedin the disc valve, means for causing air to circulate through said passageways, the said disc valve being provided with an opening and the engine head being provided with an intake and exhaust port.

7. An internal combustion engine having with passageways which extend transv'ersely of the disc through a portion thereof, said disc valve being provided with a groove adjacent the inner'and outer portion thereof with which said passageways communicate,

a vane member secured to the disc and 00- operating with the wall of said recess, a cover for the engine head, said cover being provided with air openings.

8. An internal combustion engine having a head portion, intake and exhaust ports in said head portion, said head portion having a recess, a disc valve in saidrecess, the disc valve being provided with an arcuate opening which cooperates successively with the said ports, a cover enclosing said recess,

an are shaped member carried by the cover upon the inner side thereof adjacent the exhaust port with the central portion thereof over the exhaust port and with the ends thereof terminating short of the intakeport,

said member lying above the disc valve and engageable with portions of theupper face of the disk adjacent the opening. a

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

OSCAR T. NELSON. 

